The tears are falling

[RESORT2ME]

Frank,

Cherish the closeness of your family. He is starting a journey. Be proud to watch him.

This summer, our oldest, his wife and three children flew in and visited us at our Pompano Beach timeshare. We were 2 years out of the Navy and resided in Michigan. Doug graduated high school and attended Junior college. I recall he flew off to pursue Marine Science Technology in Florida in 1979.

We relocated to Texas. Doug finished his courses and returned to the nest, there. Attended computer science courses at Pasadena then joined the US Coast Guard as a Marine Science Technician. We relocated to Virginia.

One of Doug’s many assignments was Honolulu. He met Deanne, a young lady from Washington state, a college student in Hawaii. We attended their wedding in 1992.

After several assignments... Virginia, Texas and Oregon, in 2006 Doug retired. He is now majoring in Computer Programming.

What a journey we have witnessed!

They reside at Vancouver, WA across the Columbia River from Portland, OR. That's about as far apart as son and parent can be.

We are content with their independence. We couldn't be more proud.
We feel successful that Doug has pursued, achieved and is continuing on.

May your tears be rewarded in the years to come.

Love is precious, cherish it.
Learn to let him become free! Watch him as he flies.

Robert

[mb727]

After dropping off our last child at school, my wife cried almost all the way home, 100 miles. I was always afraid to ask her if she was crying because our house would now be empty and quiet, or that, she realized that she would now spend the rest of her life with just me.

[iconnections]

Originally Posted by RESORT2ME

Frank,

Cherish the closeness of your family. He is starting a journey. Be proud to watch him.

This summer, our oldest, his wife and three children flew in and visited us at our Pompano Beach timeshare. We were 2 years out of the Navy and resided in Michigan. Doug graduated high school and attended Junior college. I recall he flew off to pursue Marine Science Technology in Florida in 1979.

We relocated to Texas. Doug finished his courses and returned to the nest, there. Attended computer science courses at Pasadena then joined the US Coast Guard as a Marine Science Technician. We relocated to Virginia.

One of Doug’s many assignments was Honolulu. He met Deanne, a young lady from Washington state, a college student in Hawaii. We attended their wedding in 1992.

After several assignments... Virginia, Texas and Oregon, in 2006 Doug retired. He is now majoring in Computer Programming.

What a journey we have witnessed!

They reside at Vancouver, WA across the Columbia River from Portland, OR. That's about as far apart as son and parent can be.

We are content with their independence. We couldn't be more proud.
We feel successful that Doug has pursued, achieved and is continuing on.

May your tears be rewarded in the years to come.

Love is precious, cherish it.
Learn to let him become free! Watch him as he flies.

Robert

What a heartwarming report this is and others too. It's really nice to read this thread. Frank, you must have been more scared and worried yet when your son learned to drive but not anymore because he can do it. He may like college and still love to come home often so you can be together and all the traveling together too. I am really glad I met all three of you and your son is so nice and seems responsible too. He will not let you down.

[bigfrank]

Originally Posted by jackio

Frank, I hope you and Jackie are over your tears, but I'm sure your still missing your son tremendously.

We were away in AC and Cape May and all I could think about was him. I did not think before hand that I was going to take it this bad. I knew my wife was going to take it bad but I figured I would be the strong one. Man was I wrong. We came home from AC a day and a half early and stopped by his dorm where we first dropped off an AC, Microwave and that Sensco coffee maker that some you might have bought. I put in his AC and then we had to leave but he said we could come back at 8pm where he had a 30 Min break, So we walked around Hoboken had Lunch/diner and went by the water. we then went shopping for him and picked him up a good chair, a broom , a wall mirror and some grocery's. we waited for him to get back to the room brought every thing up and had a fast cup of Coffee and left. We are still in tears but feel better knowing that he has what ever he needs and is comfortable. I know from walking around that the area is great and the School campus is safe. I know this is part of life but it took a lot out of me.

[Juleen]

Our daughter left home to go to ASU for 4 years which was about 40 minutes away from our home--rough. But, when she left to go to the U of Iowa for her Masters and Doctorate we mourned! As the years went by, we began to realize this is a normal letting go--LOL, much easier for the child than the parent. I now understood how hard it must have been for my mother to let me fly off to ASU from Colorado. It's a price that we pay for being loving parents--letting your child fly free is tough but because we love them so much we have to pay a price--letting them go! I assure you, that your relationship will change, but it's for the better. He's heading to adulthood and the bond will not weaken, it will grow and before you know it, you will find you have an adult child who is now an equal, a friend but always, always a piece of your heart!

[bigfrank]

My wife as very upset last night. She holds her cell phone all day waiting for him to call. he called at about 9 pm and rushed her off in a Min. He said he was going to call back which he did after a half hour. I spoke to him and told him never to give mom a rush call again. He said he had a bad connection and was going to call back which he did a half hour later. I told him I want to hear from him at least 2 to 3 times a day. This morning he called and my wife was talking to him for a good 10 to 15 minutes which made her happy again.

[Jya-Ning]

Kind of bring back memory when I first come to US and when my mother first visited me what she brought.

I guess my parents has similar experience but probably be worse than mine. Since they did not expect they can not see their family until 30+ years later, and they can not commuicate with them for at least 20+ years. (due to civil war that break the countries into two parts)

I guess it is part of family get grow, extended. In a later year, hopefully it will bound your family more tight together.

Jya-Ning

[Linda74]

As much as I hated to leave both of my children at college (each attended a school 6 hours away from Connecticut), I was proud that they were leaving to do something we had worked and planned for so many years to see come to fruition. Now both are working in careers they love. We are adjusting to the "empty nest" because never really returned to live at home after college....You have done a wonderful job of getting him to this point. Leaving the nest is what is best for all of you!!!

[bigfrank]

So far he has caled twice today and spent time on the phone with us each time.

[pranas]

Frank, reading your posts has brought back quite a few memories. When I sent my only child off to college, I had to take her to the airport with one suitcase and say good bye. She was going a week early to take part in a a week long outdoor program designed for incomng freshman. The university told her not to bring anything extra because she would not have access to her dorm room until after the trip. Everything had to be shipped to the dorm and was not to arrive before a certain date. Not the kind of send off that I ever expected to give her but she did want to take part in this outdoor bonding experience with some of her new classmates.The tears that flowed on the way home from the airport that day were major and she did call me later that day to let me know that she arrived, etc. It was hard letting go but we did remain close during and after the college years. While I was proud of her for getting into that school, I did envy my friends whose children went to school close to home.